Need simpler puzzles or am I just thick?

[mojonaut]

I can't do any of these.

I've watched the videos, get so far then stuck...

Maybe I'm just stupid.

[Laura]

Don't get discouraged! Try starting only the puzzles with a high solve rate (maybe 75% or up) and then work your way up to the more difficult puzzles. Just keep playing and you'll see that you get better with practice.

Best regards,
Laura

[BillsBayou]

Keep clicking the "New Game" link until you see puzzles with high success rates and low completion times. Then play those.

If you get stuck, post a screen capture. There is no way for us to play the exact game you're playing. This site is not set up that way. So a screen capture is the only way to do it.

[mojonaut]

Thanks

It is very discouraging to fail every one.

It would be nice to at least have an option to check the grid for errors without offering a hint and getting penalised.

Originally Posted by Laura

Don't get discouraged! Try starting only the puzzles with a high solve rate (maybe 75% or up) and then work your way up to the more difficult puzzles. Just keep playing and you'll see that you get better with practice.

Best regards,
Laura

[BillsBayou]

Do a screen print. Post it here. Maybe someone will give you a hint within the 24-hour time limit. You have up to 24-hours to solve a puzzle.

[Laura]

I've noticed that some players have more than one user name. Perhaps you can have a separate account while you're learning. This way, you can ask for all the tips you need. When you feel more comfortable, use your main account.

Just a thought.

Best regards,
Laura

[mojonaut]

Originally Posted by BillsBayou

Do a screen print. Post it here. Maybe someone will give you a hint within the 24-hour time limit. You have up to 24-hours to solve a puzzle.

Well this is a 74% puzzle I'm too embarrassed to say how long I've been stuck on this. In the end I had to request a hint (that I haven't used) just to confirm if there are any errors in the grid - there are none

What I would like help with is whether there is something within the clues I have overlooked or is there some association within the grid I'm not seeing.

Not looking for the absolute solution but more on the thinking strategy on where to go next.

thanks

sorry for being a pain.

[zenobia43]

Clue 2 says that painting has to be less than Mia.

In your grid, Mia can be $100K and $209K, and painting can be $100K and $153K.

If painting is less than Mia, Mia cannot be $100K.

Try putting that X in, and see if that leads to the solution.

[jseven]

If the person painting earns less than Mia, then Mia isnt the painter. so an X goes there.

[Laura]

Zenobia has nailed it again! Mia has more than painting. Many times the "more than" and "less than" clues give it away. And jseven had an important clue also.

Here are some tips that I've found helpful. After you've done the positives and negatives, go through the clues that specify a "before or after" or a "more than" or "less than." If the increment is days of the week or dollars and the clue says "Mary spent 3 more dollars than Vicki," click down 3 rows (or 3 x's) from the top on Mary's column and 3 rows up (or 3 x's) from the bottom on Vicki's column.

Pay attention to those clues where the increment is 15 years or 5 points (in other words not an increment of one). For example, if each increment is 5 points and the clue says "the person who wore a red shirt scored 20 points more than the person who wore a blue shirt." you can place 4 x's (4 x 5 = 20) from the top going down on the red shirt column and 4 x's from the bottom going up the blue shirt column.

Hope these techniques help you.

Best regards,
Laura